Aadi Pooram 2026 – Andal Jayanti, the Birth Star of the Poet-Saint
ஆடிப்பூரம்
When is Aadi Pooram in 2026?
Aadi Pooram falls on Friday, 14 August 2026. It is the birth star of Andal (Goda Devi), the only woman among the twelve Alvar saints, and is observed on the Pooram (Purva Phalguni) nakshatra in the Tamil month of Aadi. The grandest celebration is at the Srivilliputhur Andal temple in Tamil Nadu, where her symbolic wedding to Lord Ranganatha is enacted.
Aadi Pooram, also called Andal Jayanti or Thiruvadipooram, honours the birth star of Andal (Goda Devi), a young girl of Srivilliputhur who grew into one of Tamil devotion’s most beloved poet-saints. Observed on the Pooram nakshatra in the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July to mid-August), it celebrates both her birth and her longed-for union with Lord Vishnu as Ranganatha. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 14 August, kept most grandly at the Andal temple where she was found as an infant.
Aadi Pooram 2026-2028: Dates & Calendar
Aadi Pooram in 2026 falls on Friday, 14 August. The date shifts each year because it follows the Pooram nakshatra within the Tamil solar month of Aadi, so it can land anywhere from late July to mid-August.
| Year | Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 July | Monday | Previous year, for reference |
| 2026 | 14 August | Friday | Next occurrence |
| 2027 | 5 August | Thursday | Pooram nakshatra in Aadi |
| 2028 | 25 July | Tuesday | Earlier in the month |
At Srivilliputhur the day sits within a longer Brahmotsavam, and the famous car festival (therottam) is timed to it. Local temple notices confirm the exact hour of the kalyanam each year.
Why Aadi Pooram Is Celebrated
Aadi Pooram celebrates the birth star of Andal, believed to be an incarnation of Bhudevi (the earth goddess and consort of Vishnu), and her single-minded love for the Lord. It is the day the Sri Vaishnava world remembers how a girl’s devotion carried her into the sanctum itself.
The girl found under the tulasi
Andal was discovered as an infant by Periyalvar, a garland-maker and Alvar saint, in the tulasi garden of Srivilliputhur. He raised her as his own daughter, and she grew up surrounded by the daily service of weaving flowers for Vishnu. Her birth on the Pooram star is what the festival marks.
The only woman among the Alvars
The twelve Alvars were the poet-saints whose Tamil hymns shaped Sri Vaishnava devotion, and Andal is the sole woman among them. Her voice in the tradition is unusual: intimate, bold and entirely her own, which is part of why her birthday is kept with such affection.
Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi
Andal composed two works. The Tiruppavai, thirty verses on a maidens’ winter vow, is recited across Tamil homes and temples in the month of Margazhi. The Nachiyar Tirumozhi is more personal and passionate, pouring out her longing to be wedded to the Lord.
Her union with the Lord
Tradition holds that Andal’s wish was granted: she was taken as a bride to Ranganatha at Srirangam and merged with him, never to return. Aadi Pooram re-enacts that union, so the day is both a birthday and a wedding remembered together.
Deities & Figures Worshipped
The day centres on Andal (Goda Devi) and, as her chosen Lord, Vishnu in the form of Ranganatha. Her foster father Periyalvar is honoured alongside her.
Andal (Goda Devi)
Andal is the poet-saint and bride-devotee at the heart of the festival, worshipped as an incarnation of Bhudevi. Her image is bathed, dressed as a bride and offered the very garland she is said to have worn before the Lord.
Vishnu as Ranganatha
Vishnu, especially in his reclining form as Ranganatha of Srirangam, is Andal’s beloved and the groom of the symbolic wedding. In Vaishnava temples the day’s worship joins her name with his.
Periyalvar
Periyalvar, the garland-maker who found and raised Andal, is remembered as the saint who first placed her before Vishnu. His hymns and his role as her father give the Srivilliputhur celebration its family warmth.
Key Rituals, Step by Step
Temple worship on Aadi Pooram follows a clear arc, from the morning bath of the goddess to her evening procession as a bride.
- Abhishekam. The image of Andal is given a ceremonial bath with milk, curd, honey, sandal paste and rosewater in the early morning, to the chanting of Vedic verses and her own hymns.
- Alankaram. She is then dressed in bridal silks and jewels, her hair set in the distinctive side knot for which she is known, and adorned so she appears ready for her wedding.
- Recitation of Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi. Groups of devotees and temple reciters sing Andal’s own compositions, giving the day its poetry and reminding all present of her longing for the Lord.
- The garland offering. Echoing the legend in which Andal secretly wore the garland meant for Vishnu, a flower garland is offered to her and then to Ranganatha, binding the two together for the day.
- Valaikappu. Glass bangles are offered to the goddess and afterwards distributed to women devotees, a custom linking Andal to the girls and mothers who look to her.
- Tirukalyanam, the symbolic wedding. The union of Andal and Ranganatha is enacted before the deities, the emotional heart of the day, when her prayer to be the Lord’s bride is honoured.
- Procession. In the evening the goddess is carried in procession, and at Srivilliputhur the towering temple car (therottam) is drawn through the streets by crowds of devotees.
Special Foods of Aadi Pooram
Offerings lean towards the sweet and the cooling foods of Aadi, prepared at home and in temple kitchens and shared as prasadam.
Sweet pongal
Sakkarai pongal, rice simmered with jaggery, ghee, cashews and cardamom, is a common offering. Its sweetness suits a festival of love and union, and it is served warm as prasadam.
Tamarind rice (puliyodarai)
Tangy tamarind rice, tempered with mustard, curry leaves and roasted lentils, is a staple temple offering. It keeps well through a long festival day and is handed out in generous scoops.
Sweet and curd rices
Alongside the tamarind rice, sweetened rice and cooling curd rice are offered together, a familiar Sri Vaishnava trio that balances tang, sweetness and calm.
Butter and buttermilk
Fresh butter and cups of buttermilk are shared during Aadi, the hottest stretch before the monsoon settles. The cooling drink is both an offering and a mercy in the heat.
Where It's Celebrated
Aadi Pooram is a Tamil festival at its core, kept most fully in the temple towns of the south and among Tamil communities abroad.
Srivilliputhur
The Andal temple at Srivilliputhur, her birthplace, holds the grandest celebration. The town’s soaring temple tower is a state emblem, and the Aadi Pooram car festival draws large crowds to draw the therottam.
Srirangam and Vishnu temples
At Srirangam, the seat of Ranganatha, the symbolic wedding carries special meaning as the very shrine of Andal’s union. Sri Vaishnava temples across Tamil Nadu observe the day with abhishekam and hymn recitation.
Amman and girl-honouring customs
Aadi is a Devi month, and Aadi Pooram is also a day when young girls are honoured and offerings made at Amman temples. In many homes it is treated as an auspicious day for daughters.
Tamil diaspora
Tamil communities in Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the West mark the day in their local Vishnu and Andal temples, with recitation of Tiruppavai and a bridal alankaram of the goddess.
Aadi Pooram Do's and Don'ts
Simple customs help keep the day devotional and in tune with temple practice.
Do
- Visit an Andal or Vishnu temple for the abhishekam and evening procession.
- Recite or listen to the Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi.
- Offer flowers, especially a garland, in memory of Andal’s legend.
- Share pongal, tamarind rice and buttermilk as prasadam.
- Honour young girls in the family as a mark of the day.
Avoid
- Do not treat it as a generic date; keep the focus on Andal and her Lord.
- Avoid non-vegetarian food when observing the day devotionally.
- Do not wear a garland yourself before offering it to the deity.
- Avoid rushing the recitation; the hymns are meant to be sung with feeling.
- Do not confuse Aadi Pooram with Aadi Perukku, a separate Aadi-month water festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Aadi Pooram in 2026?
Aadi Pooram in 2026 falls on Friday, 14 August. It is observed on the Pooram (Purva Phalguni) nakshatra in the Tamil month of Aadi and marks the birth star of Andal. The grandest celebration is at the Srivilliputhur Andal temple in Tamil Nadu.
When is Aadi Pooram in 2027 and 2028?
Aadi Pooram falls on Thursday, 5 August in 2027 and on Tuesday, 25 July in 2028. The date changes each year because it depends on when the Pooram nakshatra occurs within the Tamil month of Aadi, so it can range from late July to mid-August.
Why is Aadi Pooram celebrated?
Aadi Pooram is celebrated as the birth star of Andal (Goda Devi), the only woman among the twelve Alvar saints. It honours her intense devotion to Lord Vishnu and re-enacts her symbolic wedding to Ranganatha, so the day is both a birthday and a remembered union.
Who is Andal and why is she important?
Andal, also called Goda Devi, was a girl of Srivilliputhur raised by the saint Periyalvar and revered as an incarnation of Bhudevi. She composed the Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi, and is the only female Alvar. Tradition holds she merged with Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam, which is why she is loved as the bride-devotee.
What is the divine wedding ritual of Aadi Pooram?
The divine wedding, or Tirukalyanam, is a symbolic marriage of Andal to Lord Ranganatha enacted in temples such as Srivilliputhur and Srirangam. It honours Andal’s own prayer to be wedded to the Lord, which tradition says was granted, and it forms the emotional centre of the day’s worship.
Where is Aadi Pooram celebrated most grandly?
Aadi Pooram is celebrated most grandly at the Andal temple in Srivilliputhur, Andal’s birthplace in Tamil Nadu, where a large car festival is drawn through the streets. Srirangam and Sri Vaishnava temples across Tamil Nadu and the Tamil diaspora also observe the day with abhishekam and hymn recitation.
What foods are offered on Aadi Pooram?
Common offerings on Aadi Pooram include sweet pongal, tamarind rice, sweetened and curd rices, and cooling buttermilk. These are prepared at home and in temple kitchens and shared as prasadam, with sweet dishes reflecting the day’s theme of love and union.
Is Aadi Pooram the same as Aadi Perukku?
No, Aadi Pooram and Aadi Perukku are different festivals that both fall in the Tamil month of Aadi. Aadi Pooram marks the birth star of Andal, while Aadi Perukku is a water festival honouring rivers on the eighteenth day of Aadi.
May Andal’s love for the Lord bless your home this Aadi Pooram. Andal Thiruvadi Sharanam.